Toothbrush holder



Oct. 4, 1955 H. B. LERMER 2,719,626

TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed Jan. 24, 1952 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,719,626 TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Herman B. Lermer, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Lermer Plastics, Inc., Garwood, N. J., a corporation ofNew Jersey Application January 24, 1952, Serial No. 267,959 Claims. (Cl. 20615.1)

This invention relates to a toothbrush holder, and is more particularly directed to the provision of a casing which is preferably made of a transparent or translucent material and is provided with means for positioning the bristle end of the brush therein. The casing is adapted to be used in the initial packaging of the toothbrush by the manufacturer to cooperate with a carton section which may be positioned over the handle portion of the toothbrush. In the holder of the invention, the positioning means above referred to serves to secure the bristle end of the toothbrush within the holder at the desired position and with the free ends of the bristles maintained in spaced relation to the holder to prevent damage or deformation.

The invention further provides means for displaying the toothbrush in the holder in such fashion as to emphasize the characteristic or distinctive features of the toothbrush.

The invention is adapted for use in connection with an infinite variety of toothbrush heads, to hold the same securely therein while permitting the brush handle to extend from the casing at a predetermined desired angle.

The holder of the invention may be retained by the user after the toothbrush package has been opened initially, the holder then serving as a permanent means for holding the toothbrush in convenient and accessible position, in a highly sanitary fashion, while protecting the bristles as above mentioned, with the handle end disposed outwardly in convenient position for removal of the toothbrush from the holder and its re-insertion therein.

These and other advantageous objects, which will appear from the drawings and from the description hereinafter, are accomplished by the structure of my invention, of which an embodiment is illustrated in the drawings. It will be apparent, from a consideration of said drawings and the following description, that the invention may be embodied in other forms suggested thereby, and such other forms as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered within the scope and purview of the instant invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of one form of a toothbrush holder embodying the invention,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of another form thereof, showing a toothbrush positioned therein,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary horizontal transverse sectional view, taken at the position indicated by line 3 of Fig. 9 in a modified form of invention,

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of the invention,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary horizontal transverse sectional view, taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary, longitudinal sectional view, taken on line 66 of Fig. 4,

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal horizontal sectional view of a modified form of the invention,

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary perspective view of a modified form of the invention, and

Fig. 9 is a side elevational view of a toothbrush package includnig the holder of my invention.

As shown in the drawings, the holder of my invention comprises a preferably rectangular, transparent casing having a closed end wall 11 and an'open end 12, said casing being provided with means to secure a toothbrush therein,.such as indicated at T in Fig. 2 by way of example only of one of an infinite variety of toothbrushes in connection with which the invention may be used. The casing is provided with a stop bar 13 transversely disposed on the end wall 11 interiorly of thecasing and in spaced relation to the lower wall 15 of the casing to cooperate therewith in positioning the toothbrush head H in predetermined position for the purposes above mentioned.

In the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the second positioning member comprises a bar 14 disposed medially longitudinally of the casing at the juncture of the lower and end walls thereof and so spaced relative to the stop bar 13 as tocooperate therewith in positioning the brush within the casing as indicated in Fig. 9. The bar 14 may be of triangular outline as shown in Fig. 1, tosu'pport the head and guide the same into contact with the stop bar 13. As shown inFig. 8, the positioning member may comprise two or more units 14a and 14b of triangular outline.

In the form of invention shown in Fig. 2, the second positioning member comprises a bar 16 transversely disposed on the end wall 11 interiorly of the casing in parallel spaced relation tothe stop bar 13-and defining therewith an opening to receive the end of the toothbrush head. The bar 16 is providedwith a chamfered upper edge 17, as shown in Fig. 2, so as to initially guide the end of the toothbrush head into position between the bars 16 and 13.

In Fig. 4, the second positioning member comprises a bar 18 fixed to the end wall 11 and extending angularly longitudinally therefrom inwardly of the casing. If desired, a pair of bars 18, 18a may be used, as shown in Fig. 4, the bars engaging the side edges of the toothbrush head H so as to adapt the device for use with brush heads of a fair range of widths.

As shown in Fig. 3, the casing may be interiorly tapered longitudinally, as indicated at 19, 20,so as to define an internal longitudinal wedge to snugly receive the sides of the toothbrush head and further cooperate in positioning the same within the casing.

In Fig. 7, the casing is shown interiorly stepped as indicated at 21, 22 so as to accommodate it to receive the free ends of the cartons such as shown at C in Fig. 9, assembled onto the casing. Thus the free ends of such cartons may be inserted within the casing which is internally stepped to conform to the dimensions of such cartons of a range of dimensions. The cartons may be telescoped or otherwise positioned directly over the free end of the casing, as indicated in Fig. 9, or otherwise secured thereto.

It is the practice in the toothbrush industry to assemble the finished toothbrush in a carton, expensive equipment being provided for the purpose. The present invention is well adapted to enable the efficient use of present packaging equipment, the casing 10 being adapted to securely hold the brush therein with the handle of the brush projecting therefrom at a predictable given angle and position for accurate registry with a casing part such as that shown at C of Fig. 9. While the casing is shown as rectangular, having a lower wall 15 and end wall 11, it may be of nonrectangular outline and cross-section, if so desired.

The construction shown in Fig. 3 is designed to gauge the greatest diameter or width of the head of the tooth brush, to provide a snug fit, so that even if the toothbrush holder is inverted, the brush will not fall out.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A holder comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a stop bar extending transversely across the inner surface of the closed end of the casing, and a second positioning member secured interiorly of the casing at the closed end thereof in downwardly spaced relation to the bar to cooperate therewith in positioning an object between the recited positioning members and to hold said object in predetermined position in the casing, with an edge portion in abutting engagement with an under surface of the stop bar, said second positioning member comprising a bar disposed medially longitudinally of the casing at the juncture of the lower and end walls thereof and so spaced relative to the stop bar as to cooperate therewith in holding the object between them.

2. A holder comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a stop bar extending transversely across the inner surface of the closed end of the casing, and a second positioning member secured interiorly of the casing at the closed end thereof in downwardly spaced relation to the bar to cooperate therewith in positioning an object between the recited positioning members and to hold said object in predetermined position in the casing, with an edge portion in abutting engagement with an under surface of the stop bar, said second positioning member comprising a bar of triangular outline disposed medially longitudinally of the casing and so spaced relative to the stop bar as to cooperate therewith in so holding the object.

3. A holder comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a stop barextending transversely across the inner surface of the closed end of the casing, and a second positioning member secured interiorly of the casing at the closed end thereof in downwardly spaced relation to the bar to cooperate therewith in positioning an object between the recited positioning members and to hold said object in predetermined position in the casing, with an edge portion in abutting engagemen with an under surface of the stop bar, said second positioning member comprising a bar fixed to the end extending longitudinally therefrom inwardly of the casing.

4. A holder comprising a casing open at one end and closed at its opposite end, a stop bar extending transversely across the inner surface of the closed end of the casing, and a second positioning member secured interiorly of the casing at the closed end thereof in downwardly spaced relation to the bar to cooperate therewith in positioning an object between the recited positioning members and to hold said object in predetermined position in the casing, with an edge portion in abutting engage-- versely across the inner surface of the closed end of the casing, and a second positioning member secured interiorly of the casing at the closed end thereof in downwardly spaced relation to the bar to cooperate therewith in positioning an object between the recited positioning members and to hold said object in predetermined position in the casing, with an edge portion in abutting engagement with an under surface of the stop bar, said second positionirig member comprising. a pair of bars fixed to the end and extending longitudinally therefrom inwardly of the casing.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

